Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines: Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita: Top Cover, 1119. India, Bihar, Vikramashila Monastery. Palm-leaf pages, wooden covers; ink and color on palm leaves; overall: x 57 x cm (2 9/16 x 22 7/16 x 9/16 in.). The inner side of the top cover is fully painted with images of the Five Cosmic Buddhas of Esoteric Buddhism. Each one has a different color, meaningful hand gesture, and is associated with a spatial direction. In the center is the white Vairochana holding his hands in the enlightenment mudra. On either side of the binding holes are the other fo
Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines: Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita: Top Cover, 1119. India, Bihar, Vikramashila Monastery. Palm-leaf pages, wooden covers; ink and color on palm leaves; overall: x 57 x cm (2 9/16 x 22 7/16 x 9/16 in.). The inner side of the top cover is fully painted with images of the Five Cosmic Buddhas of Esoteric Buddhism. Each one has a different color, meaningful hand gesture, and is associated with a spatial direction. In the center is the white Vairochana holding his hands in the enlightenment mudra. On either side of the binding holes are the other four Cosmic Buddhas Akshobyha (blue, earth-touching mudra, east) and Amitabha (red, meditation mudra, west), and on the ends are Ratnasambhava (gold, gift-giving mudra, south) and Amoghasiddhi (green, fear-not mudra, north). The top side is covered with ritual materials indicating that this book was once an object of worship.
Size: 3400px × 617px
Photo credit: © CMA/BOT / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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